Hitching-chain.



CHARLES H. GORDON, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.

HITGI-IING-CHAIN.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented llar. 14, 1911.

Application filed January 21, 1910. Serial No. 539,241.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. GORDON, citizen of the United States,residing at San Jose, in the county of Santa Clara and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inI'Iitching-Chains, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the subject of tethering animals, and theprincipal object of the same is to provide a hitching cable that may befastened about a hitching post or the like which will automaticallytighten about said post, yet will at the same time permit of thenecessary yielding movements to prevent injury being done to an animalhitched such as might occur through throwing of the head of the animal.

In carrying out the objects of the invention generally stated above itwill be understood, of course, that the essential features thereof arenecessarily susceptible of changes in details and structuralarrangements, one preferred and practical embodiment of which is shownin the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure I is a diagrammatic view ofthe improved hitching cable. Fig. II is a transverse sectional view ofthe hitching post showing the improved cable attached thereto.

Referring to said drawings by numerals, it will be observed that theimproved hitching cable has been shown as formed of chains, although itwill be understood that the same may be formed of rope or any othersuitable or convenient material. The said hitching device comprisesprimarily a single length of chain 1, which is of a suitable length forhitching purposes, one end thereof being provided with a snap hook 2 orother convenient or suitable means that may be readily engaged with ordisengaged from an animals bridle, halter or like head gear. At asuitable point of the length of chain 1 and preferably adjacent the endthereof opposite the end which is equipped with the snap hook 2, anauxiliary chain 3 has one end linked to said chain 1 to permit of thenecessary flexible connection, said auxiliary chain having its free endequipped with a snap 1 or other convenient fastening means.

Intermediate its ends said auxiliary chain 3 has a portion of its lengthlooped as indicated at 5, the ends of said loop portion 5 beingconnected by the spiral spring 6 that exerts a tension to draw the endsof said loop 5 toward each other when the hitching device is placedaround the post.

In using the improved hitching device, the free end of chain 1 and thesimilar 0nd of auxiliary chain 3 are wound about a post 7 and drawntight thereon against the tension of spring 6 after which the snap hook4 is engaged with one of the links. of chain 1, as is shown more clearlyin Fig. 2, the tightening of chains 1 and 3 obviously expanding spring 6so that when said chains 1 and 3 are fastened together, the tension ofspring 6 will be constantly exerted to tighten said chains about saidpost, so that the same will be prevented from slipping up or down onsaid post.

In addition to the manifest advantages of providing the spring whichautomatically tightens the chains about the post so that slippage of thesame thereon is preventedfit will also be understood that said springpermits the necessary yielding to the main chain 1 so that in the eventof a sudden strain being imparted to chain 1 through tossing of the headof the animal the danger of damage being done to the animal will beeliminated.

What I claim as my invention is A hitching device comprising a mainchain, a hook at one end of said chain, an auxiliary chain linked at oneend to the .links of the main chain intermediate its length, saidauxiliary chain and a portion of said main chain forming a continuouslength of chain when placed around a post, a spring secured between twoof the links of said auxiliary chain and adapted to shorten said chain,and a hook at the free end of said auxiliary chain.

In testimony whereof I 3111K my signature in presence of two-witnesses.

CHARLES H. GORDON.

Witnesses:

MARIE SOHMID, ELSIE M. FULLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

